When Should Fertility Testing Start?

Trying to conceive can be an emotional and sometimes frustrating experience. While it’s easy to feel like everyone else is getting pregnant without any effort at all, the reality is that fertility issues are more common than you might think. 

In fact, by the time you reach age 30, you generally only have a 20% chance of getting pregnant during any given cycle, which means four out of five couples will need to try again. With odds like that, it’s not always easy to know when it’s time to see a specialist about fertility testing.

At OB/GYN Associates of Conroe, Richard Roberts, MD, offers an array of fertility testing options to help couples understand their fertility challenges and take steps to improve their chances of getting pregnant. Here, learn five reasons you might want to schedule testing now instead of waiting.

1. You’re younger than 35

Your chances of conceiving are highest when you’re under age 35. Still, if you’ve been trying to conceive every month for 12 consecutive months with no success, it’s time to consider fertility testing. 

It’s important to note that lots of factors can affect fertility, including stress and issues affecting ovulation. Scheduling a fertility consultation and testing helps identify potential problems that need to be addressed for you to conceive successfully.

2. You’re 35 or older

Once you reach age 35, your fertility begins to decline more rapidly. If you’re 35 or older and you’ve been trying to conceive for six consecutive months without becoming pregnant, that’s also an indication that it’s time to schedule an evaluation and ask about fertility testing. 

3. You’re 40 or older

At age 40, fertility rates decline significantly. In fact, by this age, your chances of getting pregnant during any cycle decrease from 20% to about 5%. The risks of miscarriage and other potential complications also increase at this age.

In fact, if you’re in this age group and hoping to conceive, it’s a good idea to schedule a consultation even before you begin trying. Early intervention and a personalized plan can improve your chances of both conceiving and carrying a healthy pregnancy to term.

4. Your health history could affect fertility

Some underlying medical conditions or medical treatments can have an impact on fertility, too. For instance, uterine fibroids, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and endometriosis can all make it harder to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term. Radiation therapy or chemotherapy for cancer can affect fertility, too.

 If you have any of these issues, you might want to schedule a fertility evaluation with or without fertility testing to understand the factors that could affect your ability to conceive. During your visit, we’ll discuss treatments that can help you become pregnant and avoid complications during pregnancy.

5. Your menstrual cycle is irregular or abnormal

If your periods are consistently irregular or extremely heavy, you might have a hormonal imbalance or another issue that could be making it harder to conceive. Fertility testing, a pelvic exam, and other lab tests or imaging studies can help determine the cause of these sorts of fertility issues. 

Don’t forget your partner

While many people think fertility problems primarily involve the female partner, males are just as likely to have issues that affect the ability to conceive. Fertility testing helps determine or rule out potential problems that could be interfering with your family planning goals.

To learn more about fertility testing or to schedule a fertility evaluation, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at OB/GYN Associates of Conroe in Conroe, Texas, today.